Morty's will change its name, image Expanded menu to appeal to families

November 11, 1993|By Amy L. Miller | Amy L. Miller,Staff Writer

In addition to a new name and new owners, Morty's is getting a new image.

The barbecue-style restaurant on Route 32 in Eldersburg will be Nathan Henry's by mid-December, the new owners told the Carroll County liquor board Tuesday.

"We intend to upgrade the menu and provide more variety," said Michael Williams of Catonsville, one of the restaurant's three new owners. "Right now, they're heavily into chicken and ribs. Our background is American, continental-style dining.

Mr. Williams said he, Arthur Chris Fedrizzi of Eldersburg and Raymond D. Jordan Jr. of Elkridge were scheduled to settle on the property this week. The sale was contingent on receiving the liquor transfer from Morty's, which the county liquor board approved Tuesday.

"Chris and I started looking for a restaurant to buy a couple of years ago," said Mr. Williams, 31, referring to the partner he met while working as the restaurant manager of Cacao Lane in Ellicott City. He also has been the manager of Fiore's in Westminster and restaurants in Baltimore.

Mr. Fedrizzi, 30, told the board he is a graduate of the Baltimore International Culinary Institute and has worked in establishments in Baltimore, San Francisco and Seattle. He was a top chef at Cacao Lane.

Mr. Jordan, 48, is a frequent Cacao Lane customer who agreed to go into business with the two. He told the board he expects to be the "silent partner" of the three.

"I like Eldersburg," said Mr. Williams, who plans to move to Carroll County by the end of the year. "It's a growing community, and I was impressed with how nice the people are when they don't even know you.

Changes to the restaurant will include extensive redecorating, and removing the pool table and pinball machines on the second floor, Mr. Williams said.